AG Insurance – Soudal ready for Setmana Ciclista Valenciana

On Thursday, February 14, the 9th edition of Setmana Ciclista Valenciana - Vuelta Comunitat Valenciana kicks off. This four-day stage race in Spain promises a challenging course with a mix of mountains and sprint opportunities. In total, the riders will cover 496.5 kilometers, tackling well-known climbs and facing a strong international field.

Stage Overview

Stage 1: Alzira – Gandia (113 km)

The opening stage sets the tone for the race with a demanding mountain stage. Along the way, riders will face Alto de Serra Grossa, Alto de Barx, and Alto de Barxeta. Despite the climbing, a larger group could still reach the finish in Gandia to battle for the first leader's jersey.

Stage 2: Benicàssim – Nules (134 km)

A brand-new start and finish location in the history of Setmana Ciclista Valenciana. The riders will begin at the beach and head into the mountains of Castellón. The climbs of Les Coronetes and Salt del Cavall will challenge the peloton and provide opportunities for attackers to make a difference.

Stage 3: Sagunt – València (118 km)

Valencia will once again set the stage for a potential bunch sprint—unless the l'Oronet climb, located less than 30 km from the finish, shakes things up. A classic stage where the sprinters' teams will look to control the race.

Stage 4: Elx – Alacant (132.5 km)

The final stage presents a demanding mountainous profile, with riders having to conquer the Alto de El Collao before a fast and explosive finale towards Alicante. In 2021, Urška Žigart won here, and this year, she returns in her AG Insurance – Soudal colors after making her team debut last week at the UAE Tour.

AG Insurance – Soudal lineup

AG Insurance – Soudal heads to the start with a mix of experience and young talent. Two riders from the U23 team will join the selection:

• Fauve Bastiaenssen  (debut)
• Emma Siegers  (U23 – debut)
• Tess Moerman  (U23 – part of the team since July 2024)
• Lore De Schepper 
• Julia Borgström 
• Mireia Benito 
• Alana Castrique (debut)

In 2023, Justine Ghekiere claimed both the mountain classification and the overall classification, and this year, the team is looking forward to another strong performance and a great race.

Mireia Benito excited for the season opener

"Finally, the moment arrives! I’m super excited to start a new season with the team after what felt like a long time without racing. I’ve been following all the races in Australia and the UAE Tour, and I was really proud of the team, what they achieved, and how they raced as a unit. That made me even more eager to be back with them!"

"Valencia is one of my favorite races on the calendar, and I’ve been working hard for it. Almost all the WorldTour teams are here, so the level will be really high, but we have a young and strong team. This is a new role for me this time, but I think we can help and learn from each other a lot. Stepping out of your comfort zone always pushes you to go harder, and that’s exactly what I want to do."

"It’s important to have a mix of experienced and younger riders in the team so they can absorb the Wolfpack vibes and our way of racing. We are building the future while making the most out of this race."

"The first and last stages will be crucial, so fatigue resistance will play an important role at the end of the day. It’s key to fuel well, recover well, and be smart about not wasting energy when it’s not needed. Dani is our DS here, and she knows exactly how to race smart, so I can’t wait to start and see what we can achieve!"